FREE SATPAL RAM

Primal Scream, Asian Dub Foundation, Mark Thomas and Irvine Welsh chained themselves to the Home Office yesterday to raise awareness on the plight of Satpal Ram – an Asian man jailed 13 years ago for defending himself from a racist attack.

Bobby Gillespie and Mark Thomas entered the Home Office buildings in an attempt to present Home Secretary Jack Straw with a petition, asking for Satpal‘s release but were told Mr Straw wouldn’t be able to talk to them directly.

The Primals and ADF have long backed Satpal‘s bid for freedom and have highlighted his treatment at the hands of the prison authorities. Since being jailed, he’s been moved from prison to prison 59 times and has endured constant spells in solitary confinement.

Bobby Gillespie told NME: “I literally believe they’ll try to kill him, they’ll try to break his spirit, they won’t break his spirit, but at some point he may well be murdered.